Cleaning and reoiling device for air cleaners



Aug. 15, 1944. w, HANSON 2,355,725

' CLEANING AND REOILING DEVICE FOR AIR CLEANERS Original Filed March 29, 1937 4 25;) 25M 9 W iz'arzg eyo m Kill/III:

Patented Aug. 15, 1944 CLEANING AND REOILING DEVICE FOR AIR CLEANERS Ralph 'Wilmer Hanson, Minneapolis, Minn., as-

signor to Vulcan Manufacturing 00., Inc., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Original application March 29, 1937, Serial No.

133,633. Divided and this application September 18, 1940, Serial No. 357,276

3 Claims.

An object of my invention is to provide a cleaning and re-oiling device for aircleaners of simple, durable and inexpensive construction; the present application being a division of my copending application Serial No. 133,633, filed March 29, 1937, and issued October 22, 1940, as Patent No. 2,218,880; the present application covering particularly the drying and reoiling features of the device.

A further object is to provide a cleaning and reoiling device particularly adapted for air clean; ers such as now used on carburetors of automobiles and other internal combustion engines, the device being made in the form of a convenient unit adapted for use in a garage or service station.

Still a further object is to provides. cleaner and re-oiler for air cleaners having means for readily cleaning the air cleaner with a cleaning fluid, the cleaning fluid being projected through the air cleaner by the simple expedient of applying a compressed air chuck, such as found available at garages and service stations, to the device.

A further object is to provide the device with different attachments whereby it is possible, by the use of compressed air, to first clean the air cleaner by using a cleaning fluid such as gasoline, then dry the cleaner by evaporating the gasoline therefrom, this being accomplished also by using compressed air, and third to re-oil-the cleaner by compressed air operation.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out .in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my cleaning and re-oiling device for air celaners;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper end thereof showing the various parts assembled for a re-oiling operation;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatical views showing the cleaning, drying and re-oiling operations, respectively, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional. view on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

On the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a base. An upright post I2 extends therefrom and may be formed of a piece of pipe. I2 a container C is mounted. The container is thereby supported by the post and base, although,

On top of the post of course, any other type of support can be provided.

Using the post and base makes the device readily portable so that it can be moved from on position to another, depending on where compressed air is available and where the device is most likely The lower part l4 of the container C is mounted on thepost l2 by a flange 22, a nipple 24 and a T fitting 26. A pipe 28 is threaded into the side of the T 26 and terminates in a fitting 30 adapted to coact with a compressed air or tire chuck. ,The fitting 30 preferably has an intake valve similar to a tire valve to prevent flow of cleaning fluid from within the container C out through the fitting 30. To prevent the cleaning fluid from going down into the pipe l2, the pipe is capped by a plate 32 brazed or otherwise sealed in position.

Extending into the bottom of the container C is an air nozzle 34. The amount of air which can pass through this nozzle is determined by a plug 36 having a small opening 38 therein, which is preferably about 3%" in diameter, where the available air supply is between and pounds per square inch.

Surrounding the nozzle 34 and somewhat spaced therefrom is an air cleaner support 40. This is merely a cylindrical flange brazed or soldered to the bottom ofthe container, and it is provided with a plurality of perforations 42 through which cleaning fluid may flow.

Removably positioned on the air nozzle 34 is a coupling 44. Removably positioned on the coupling is an oil container 46 having a bushing 48 secured to the bottom thereof and adapted to be threaded into the coupling 44. A tube 50 forms an extension of the bushing 48 and acts as an oil nozzle. A Venturi tube 52 extends part way up through this nozzle, and its lower end is bent outwardly to extend through the wall of the tube 50 and terminates within the oil container 46.

The oil container 46 and the coupling 44 may be normally supported on an arm 54 extending from the post l2 and terminating in a ring 56 to receive the coupling when these parts are not being used on the nozzle.

At the top of the container C a plurality of.

PRACTICAL OPERATION 1. Cleaning the air cleaner This operation is illustrated in Figure 3. The air cleaner indicated at A comprises a casing having an open bottom and perforations in its sides. It is usually filled with copper wool or other air filtering material, which is oiled to catch dust from the air passing through the air cleaner. Factory bulletins recommend that such air cleaners be cleaned and re-oiled every two thousand miles of operation, otherwise dirt so clogs the cleaner that gasoline mileage drops and motor efiiciency is impaired.

In order to clean the cleaner, the container C is opened and the cleaner placed therein, after a supply of gasoline or other cleaning fluid 62 (about two to four quarts) is placed in the container C. Compressed air is then introduced through the pipe 28 and discharged from the nozzle 34. Since this nozzle is below the level ofthe gasoline, it will carry the gasoline with it in the form of a spray through the air cleaner AC, the air discharging through the perforations 58 to atmosphere, and any droplets of gasoline, together with entrained dirt,.wil1 fall back into the container.

2-. Drying the air cleaner by evaporation during the cleaning operation. Application of an air chuck to the fitting 30 will new result in blowing air only through the air cleaner for evaporating any gasoline remaining therein.

3. Re-oiling the air cleaner This is accomplished by placing a supply of oil 64 (to about an inch above the intake end of the Venturi tube 52) in the oil container 46, and then screwing its bushing 48 into the upper end of the coupling 44. By then introducing compressed air to the pipe 28, the air will be discharged through the nozzles 34 and 50 and by Venturi action will draw in oil from the container 46, the oil being atomized by such operation and sprayed throughout the air cleaner. This will cause a film of oil to adhere to the filtering material within the air cleaner, and the cleaner will thus be properly oiled for accomplishing its purpose for another two thousand miles of operation. I

I have provided a very convenient device or unit for servicing air cleaners, the one device taking care of all three operations, and each operation is performed by the mere introduction of compressed air to the pipe 28. An air cleaner can be re-serviced in a very short time and the operator is assured of a thorough job when using my apparatus.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention: I

1. In' a device of the class described, a container, a cover therefor, a nozzle projecting into the bottom of said container, a support in said container for supporting an air cleaner in position to receive oil discharged from said nozzle, an extension removable relative to said nozzle for extending its discharge end to a higher position, a conduit leading to said nozzle, means for supplying air to said conduit, an oil container having a Venturi tube for conveying, oil from the oil container into said conduit, means to cause air to flow therethrough and thereby cause suction in said Venturi tube, said cover having air escape perforations and a baflie plate for said perforations.

2. In a device of the class described, a main container for enclosing an air cleaner, a conduit for projecting oil and air through an air cleaner when in said container, an oil container having an oil nozzle leading into the side of said conduit, means for discharging air through the conduit, and thereby picking up oil from said oil container by Venturi action and spraying it through the air cleaner for oiling it, and said main container having an opening for permitting escape of air therefrom.

3. In a device of the class described, a main container adapted for enclosing an air cleaner,

a conduit projecting into said main container for discharging oil and air through the air cleaner to oil it, an oil container provided with an oil nozzle having its discharge end terminating in said conduit, means for supplying air through said conduit and thereby creating a vacuum in said oil nozzle by Venturi action to pick up oil from said oil container and to discharge it with the air from said conduit, said 011 nozzle having an intake end located below the normal level of a supply of oil in said oil container, said container having an opening for permitting escape of air therefrom.

RALPH WILMER HANSON. 

